Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-06-03
Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
al wish l was editor of Democratic
paper" remarked a prominent Demo-
crat to the writer, few days ago
L" I'd like to express the indignation of
the party over the injustice of ap-
pointing a Mugwump like A. Reeves
Ayres to the Clerkship OF the District
Court"
"Shake!" remarked the scribe, ex-
tending his hand to his brother CON-
patriot. "Your sentiments do honor
to your professions; but, by the way,
have you not excused and palliated
the same offense nearer home? Have
you not condemned the STANDARD for
expressing just the sentiments you
now avow, when Policy focused the
glasses through which you viewed the
acts of your personal friends%
"Oh, the cases are not at all paral-
lei; the Republican clerks that have
been retained in the Land and Survey
or Generals offices are exceedingly
well qualified, and whenever Demo-
crat steps forth equally competent
they will be Immediately dismissed.
have this assurance from the heads
of those Offices"
Every true" replied the scribe, "but
if this requirement is literally exacted,
will these offices ever be filled by DEM
ocrats? Can anybody, no matter
what may be his qualifications, step
into any position, and Immediately
turn his hand to every detail, the same
as one familiar with the routine by
long-continued service? And would
not the same test of competence apply
to the heads of the Departments them
selves? Has a lifetime OF service been
lost upon them, if your principle is
sound one9 Besides, was there not
40 AhuSu ACdSOu w ACdI tIldt tllc
public service would suffer from the
substitution of a Democrat for the
present exceedingly competent Clerk
of the Court, Mr.. O'Brien, as if
the head clerks in the Land De-
partment were reduced to the ranks?
If the public service is to be subserved,
from your standpoint, did not Judge
Allyn do well, in removing one COM
petent Republican, by appointing an
other equally competent to fill the
placer"
Republican! Mugwump, you
mean. Mr.. Ayres is Mugwump, I
am told"
"There again you are mistaken,
friend Democrat. Mr.. Ayres is an
out-and-out, dyed-in-the-wool Republi-
can"
"Well, how did he get the appoint
ment, thenf" eagerly queried the p. d.
Haven't you heardi Well, that's
strange. I'll tell you what's reported
and you can take it for what it is
worth. 1t is said that one of the Re-
publican Judges of the Supreme Court
which counted Samuel ]. Tilden out,
when sitting as an Electoral Commits
sion, favored Mr.. Ayres, and that
Judge Allyn owes his position very
largely to the aforesaid Judge-Miller
by name."
Thunder and lightning! is that so?
Then it seems that we are having die
tation from Republicans, and Republi-
cans in high quarters at that, and Re-
publicans who hold so-called non-po-
itical Offices"
"That's about the size of it. But
you see that's nothing new. Back
room Republicans here have assumed
to dictate to front-parlor Democrats,
and still you condone the act"
"Well, we'll; thought you criti-
cised the acts of some of our public
officers because of personal feeling or
prejudice against them. i
"There is where you did the STAND
ARD an injustice. None of these men
went into Office without a cordial en-
dOrsement in its columns. In no re-
spect has it had any favors personal
Or political to ask of them. It has
commented upon The Mugwumpian
Policy" simply as matter of duty. 1t
has done 30 in q candid, honest and
gentlemanly manner. Not the slight
est shade of personal feeling entered |
into anything it has said"
Well, why is it that - is not
friendly to your"
Simply because it is impossible for
him to draw the line of distinction be-
tween fair, legitimate and well-intend-
ed criticism and personal abuse.
That's the full size of it,"
well, good day." P. d. retires in
q meditative mood.
AN Utica, New York, telegram of
the 18th ult. gives the following fore
bodings of disaster to Eastern crops.
If they are verified, prices will be good
on this coast next season. "a gloomy
feeling pervades the hop districts of
central New York. Two years ago
growers hardly realized enough from
their hops to pay the cost OF raising.
Those who profited materially were
they who were able to hold their pro-
duct for better prices, which came a
year later. Last year the crop was al
most total failure. Two years. mis-
fortune brought distress to many and
failure to more than few. A third
years disaster means ruin to still